‘OMG’ campaign warns teens against distracted driving

Darci Marchese, wtop.com

WASHINGTON — A new effort to steer teens away from distracted driving takes a softer tone than in years past.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is unveiling “OMG,” a new public service announcement to warn teens about texting and driving and other distractions, as the holiday season gets underway.

The public service announcements will air in movie theaters and on gas station TV’s throughout the month of December.

But don’t expect to only see the typical in-your-face PSA with crashing cars and scary images. Some are kinder and gentler.

One video shows a dashboard with a cell phone ringing. The phone just rings and the driver doesn’t pick it up.

Underneath, the words appear: “That one call could have wrecked it all.” It goes on to say, “You kept your eyes on the road, awesome job.”

The video offers up other distractions that the driver simply ignores.

The subtle PSA’s will air on more than 6,500 movie screens in 526 screens across the country.

The louder, dramatic videos will be seen on Outcast’s PumpTop TV.

The Regal Entertainment Group and PumpTop teamed up with the U.S. Department of Transportation for these PSA’s.

You can watch the PSA’s here.

Follow Darci Marchese and WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2011 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

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